Green City Market: Chicago's Year-Round Farmers Market

Store History

Founded:
1998

Founded by:
Abby Mandel

Headquarters:
Chicago, Illinois

Alice Waters has called it"the best sustainable market in the country." Founded in 1998, the Green City Market is the only year-round farmers market in Chicago. It's most fun to visit from May to October (every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 am to 1pm), when the Lincoln Park location is full of vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

In the winter, it moves indoors to 2430 N Cannon Drive at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. There's an impressive list of Midwestern farmers and vendors who sell at the market in summer and winter — fresh baked pies from Hoosier Mama, organic vegetables from Tomato Mountain, cheese from Capriole, and honey from the Chicago Honey Coop.

The farmers market regularly hosts celebrity chefs, from Rick Bayless to patron saints of the organic locavore food movement like Alice Waters, but for a more intimate demo, check out the continuous program of events with lesser known local chefs, who can teach you anything from how to chop garlic to how to pair wine with food.

For more information on the farmers, chefs, and programs at the Green City Market, check out their website, which is more informative and extensive than the average city market site.